The Associated Press has called the South Carolina special House primary election for Mark Sanford.

At this hour, he leads with 14,227 votes to Bostic’s 11,552, a 55 percent to 44 percent split.

Charleston County, the most populous county in the district, is proving a Sanford stronghold; the former governor leads 59 percent to 40 percent with about two-thirds of precincts reporting.

Much to my surprise, Bostic made up a lot of ground in Beaufort County. He won only 8 percent in the first round but is currently leading that county, 52 percent to 47 percent; 73 out of 80 precincts have reported at this hour.

Clearly, Sanford will need to perform better here in the general-election matchup against Elizabeth Colbert Busch.

Dorchester was Bostic’s best county in the first round (18.4 percent) but proved a Sanford stronghold in the runoff. With two-thirds of precincts reporting, Sanford leads, 58 percent to 41 percent.